Unit heater



P. J. MclNTYRE UNIT HEATER Aug. 15, 1933.

2 Shets-Sheet 1 Filed July 25, 1931 A 1933- P. J. MclNTYRE 1,922,815

UNIT HEATER Filed July 25, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

Patrick M 7 7 /n t y) e mu/QM ATTORNEYS.

Patented Aug. 15, 1933 1 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 11 Claims.

My invention relates to heating apparatus, or, more properly speaking, heat exchange apparatus whereby heated or chilled ventilation may be secured efliciently.

An object of the invention is to arrange heat exchange mechanism in conjunction with a fan for driving air across the heat exchange surfaces so that the maximum efliciency of both the heat exchange surface and the driving fan are secured.

A further object of the invention resides in the particular combination and arrangement of parts wherein maximum efliciency and relatively low manufacturing costs are secured, as well as in other meritorious features which will be pointed out more clearly hereinafter in conjunction with the drawingswherein- Fig. 1 is an elevation, partly in section, of my improved unit.

Fig. 2 is a section through 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 illustrates a somewhat modified struc ture, and

Fig. 4 is a section'through 44 of Fig. 3.

My invention in its broadest aspect comprises a cylinder open at both ends and provided along the interior thereof with a plurality of radially spaced apart axially alined circular coils through which steam or hot water may be forced. Supported at one extremity of the cylinder is a motor driven fan which forces air through the cylinder and the coils positioned therein. The fan is of the rotary type and mounted concentrically with'the cylinder. The axially alined coils provide an annular resistance around the periphery of the cylinder and since this resistance is in line with the peripheral portion of the fan, which is the most effective portion thereof, the speed of the air driven through the open interior or central portion of the cylinder and that driven through the annular coil arrangement will be substantially constant.

Referring now in greater detail to the drawings, the cylindrical unit is formed upon two rings, 10 and 12. Each of these rings is provided with an offset flange, 14 and 16 respectively, to which is secured a covering 18 which may be of sheet metal or any suitable substance. This covering material 18 is secured in place by means of screws 20, certain of which also function to retain the intake and outlet manifolds 22 and 24 in position on the interior of the cylinder.

These manifolds are provided with intake and outlet connections, 26 and 28, respectively, and,

as will be clearly seen from Fig. 2, are substantially triangular in cross section, the base of the triangle being adjacent the wall of the cylinder. Header openings 30, 32, and 34, are provided along each leg of each manifold. These openings extend at spaced apart intervals along the length of each of the said legs, and substantially semi-circular coils 36, 38, and 40, extend between adjacent header openings, 34, 32, and 30, of each of the manifolds. Spiral fins 42 encompass each section-of each coil as clearly illustrated. The manifolds are formed in this substantially triangular manner so that their capacity adjacent the periphery of the cylinder will be greater than the capacity at each inner extremity. This is desirable because of the fact that the outer coils 40 will take a greater cubical content of heating medium by virtue of their greater curvature radius and therefore greater length.

A motor driven fan 44 having fan blade 45 is positioned at one end of the cylindrical unit by means of brackets 46, one extremity of each of which is secured as at 48 to the fan motor and the other to the ring 12 by means of bolts 50.

It will be seen that a compact unit comprising very few parts, and which is inexpensive to manufacture and assemble, 'is provided. Furthermore, the most effectivepart of the fan, the outer periphery thereof is in axial alinement with the annular heating coil assembly while the less effective portion thereof is in axial alinement with the central opening provided by the coils. The air set in motion by the outer peripheral portion of the fan will encounter the coils during its passage through the cylinder and since these coils offer a certain amount of resistance to the passage of the air, the speed of the air passing through the coil and that passing along the interior of the coil, where there is no resistance, will be substantially constant.

As illustrated in Fig. 3, the openings 26 and 28 in the manifolds 22 and 24 are connected to intake and outlet conduits 52 and 54 respectively. Either hot water or steam may be circulated through the coils, or the unit may be utilized with a cooling medium, if desired. In the somewhat modified structure illustrated in Fig. 3, I have incorporated a blower of the turbine type, broadly indicated by the numeral 56, in conjunction with the fan 44. The blades 58 of the blower are concentrically arranged with the coils in the cylinder and are preferably arranged along a radius slightly greater than the outer circumference of the said coils. These blades may be driven by any suitable power through the shaft 60 independently of the fan 44. The housing for l 1. Heating apparatus of the class the blower may be of any suitable design and provided with a circular flanged opening as at 62 which may be securely bolted to the ring 10 of the cylindrical heating unit;

The use of the blower increases the capacity of the unit and provides a greater range of eifectiveness for the heat exchange surface positioned within the cylinder.

Having illustrated a preferred embodiment of my improved structure,

What I claim is:

comprising a pair of spaced apart rings in axial alinement, a covering secured to said rings forming therewith an open ended cylinder, a plurality of axially alined radially spaced apartcoils positioned around the outer periphery of said cylinder-by means of said rings, and a motor driven fan supported by one of said rings.

2. In combination with an open ended cylinder, a pair of manifolds-extending along the interior of said cylinder in opposed relation to one another, each of said manifolds being substantially triangular in cross section, the bases thereof being adjacent the surface of the cylinder and lying within the same.

3. In combination with an open ended cylinder, a pair of manifolds extending along the interior of said cylinder in opposed relation to one another, each of said manifolds being substantially triangular in cross section, the base thereof being adjacent the surface of the cylinder and lying within the same, and radially spaced apart'semi-circular coil sections in axially alined relation connecting adjacent legs of said manifold.

4. In combination with an open ended cylinder, a pair of manifolds extending along the interior of said cylinder in opposed relation to one another, each of said manifolds being substantially triangular in cross section, the base thereof being adjacent the surface of the cylinder, radially spaced apart semi-circular coil sections in axially alined relation connecting adjacent legs of said manifold, said manifolds projecting radially into the interior ofv the cylinder along substantially one-quarter of the diameter thereof, and a motor driven fan positioned at one extremity of the cylinder concentric therewith, the blades of said fan being concentric therewith and substantially equal to the radius of said cylinder.

5. Heat exchange apparatus comprising an open ended cylinder, a plurality of radially spaced apart coils circumferentially arranged in axial alinement within said cylinder, a fan podescribed,

sitioned concentrically with said cylinder adjacent to one end thereof, and a blower arranged adjacent the opposite end thereof, said blower including turbine blades positioned about a circumference'approximating that of said cylinder ariid1 rotatable about an axis concentric therew 6. A heater including, in combination, a pair of spaced apart concentric supporting rings, and manifold units secured at opposite extremities thereof to said rings in diametrically opposed relation to one another.

'1. A heater including, in combination, a pair of spaced apart concentric rings, manifold units secured at opposite extremities thereof to said rings, in diametrically opposed relation to one another, said manifold units extending between said rings and being substantially triangular in cross section, the base of said triangle being in substantial alinement with the circumference of said rings.

8. Apparatus of the class described comprising an open ended cylinder, a plurality of radially spaced apart coils circumferentially arranged in axial alignment within said cylinder, a fan positioned concentrically with said cylinder adjacent one end thereof, and a blower arranged adjacent the opposite end thereof.

9. Apparatus of the class described including a pair of spaced apart concentric rings, a cylindrical covering secured around and extending between said rings, each of said rings including a flange extending beyond the cylindrical covering, and a fan provided with blades arranged concentrically with said cylinder and of a radius substantially equal thereto positioned by said flanges at one extremity of said cylinder.

10. Structure of the class described including, in combination, a pair of spaced apart concentric annular rings, a cylindrical covering positioned around and extending between said rings exteriorly thereof, and a pair of oppositely disposed header elements secured to the interior of said rings.

11. Structure of the class described including, in combination, a pair of spaced apart concentric annular rings, a cylindrical covering positioned around and extending between said rings exteriorly thereof, and a pair of oppositely disposed header elements secured to the interior of said rings, said header elements including converging sides extending substantially inwardly of the cylinder substantially one half the radius thereof. I

PATRICK J. McINTYRE. 

